Rise of the Fallen Son-in-law

Chapter 4: The trial

The sentries from Capital City of Precipice arrived at Markus's home, their faces grim and unsmiling. They explained that he was to be brought before the governor, to answer for his actions.

"What have I done?" asked Markus, his heart sinking. "I only did what I thought was right."

"The people are in danger because of you," said the lead sentry. "And the governor demands an explanation."

Celeste's eyes flashed with anger. "He is the god of war!" she exclaimed. "You saw the dragon! Surely that must mean something!"

The governor waved a dismissive hand. "Anyone can tame a dragon, if they know the right incantations," he said. "It is not proof of divinity."

"But he saved me!" cried Celeste, her voice breaking. "He is not the one who has put us in danger. It is the god killers who threaten us all!"

"Enough!" roared the president, slamming his fist on the table. "You will not speak out of turn, girl! And as for you, boy," he said, turning to Markus.

"You have put our people in danger," said the president, his voice low and dangerous. "You have drawn the god killers to our door, and they will destroy us all if we do not act. Your actions have made you a threat to the kingdom, and I must do what is necessary to protect the people."

"What will you do?" asked Markus, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I have no choice," said the president, his face set in stone.

"That's ridiculous!" exclaimed Celeste, her voice rising in anger. "You would send an untrained man to fight a daemon? They're the most dangerous creatures in the land!"

"It is the only way," said the governor, unmoved by her protests. "Only then will we know if he is truly the god of war."

Celeste turned to Markus, her eyes pleading. "You can't do this," she said, her voice breaking.

As Markus stepped into the arena, the crowd hushed. They could hear the beast approaching, its roar growing louder with each passing second. Celeste held her breath, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene before her. She could see the fear in Markus's eyes, but also the determination. He was prepared to face his fate, no matter what it might be.

"Let the battle begin!" boomed the voice of the announcer, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The gates of the arena opened, and the beast emerged.

It was huge, its body covered in thick, black fur.

In the arena, the tension was palpable. The crowd watched in nervous anticipation as the gates slowly opened. They could hear the heavy footsteps of the beast as it moved towards the center of the arena. It was a massive, fearsome creature, its fur as black as night. Celeste watched, unable to tear her eyes away, her heart pounding in her chest.

Markus stood at the opposite end of the arena, his sword drawn and at the ready. He looked calm, but she could see the fear in his eyes. The beast let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath them, and then it charged.

As the beast charged towards him, Markus felt a rush of adrenaline. He had trained for this moment, but nothing could have prepared him for the terror he felt in that moment. His sword felt heavy in his hand, and his legs trembled beneath him. But he forced himself to stand firm, gritting his teeth as the beast drew closer.

Then, at the last moment, something unexpected happened. The beast stopped, its massive paws digging into the ground, and it let out a low growl. It was staring at Markus, its eyes unblinking, as if it were assessing him.

The thought crossed Markus's mind that it was a strange thing, for a god of war to feel fear. But in that moment, he was not a god. He was a young man, facing a beast that could tear him apart in an instant. He was not ashamed of his fear, he simply faced it with as much courage as he could muster. He was determined to prove that he was worthy of the title of god of war, no matter what it took.

As the beast continued to study him, the system flashed the stats in front of Markus's eyes.

STRENGTH: 55/100

ENDURANCE: 60/100

SPEED: 70/100

AGILITY: 80/100

WILLPOWER: 85/100

The beast continued to stare, and then it lowered its head, as if in a bow. The crowd gasped in disbelief. It was an unprecedented moment, a sign of respect from a beast to a human.

A hush fell over the crowd, and then a single voice broke the silence. It was Celeste, her voice strong and clear. "You can do this!" she called out. "You are the god of war!"

Her words echoed in Markus's mind, and something inside him clicked. He drew himself up, his shoulders straight and his eyes burning with determination. He knew what he had to do.

In a flash, he sprang into action. His sword sliced through the air, and he darted around the beast like a flash of lightning. The crowd gasped and cheered as he dodged the beast's swipes and strikes, his sword moving so fast it was a blur. The system flashed new stats in front of his eyes.

MARKUS' STATS:

STRENGTH: 65/100

ENDURANCE: 55/100

SPEED: 50/100

AGILITY: 60/100

WILLPOWER: 75/100

INTELLIGENCE: 75/100

Markus felt his confidence growing with every moment.

The beast let out a roar of fury, and it lunged at Markus, its claws extended. But he was ready. He rolled under the beast's massive body, and as he came up on the other side, he swung his sword in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the beast's hide, and it roared in pain. The crowd went wild, their cheers deafening.

The beast wheeled around, blood dripping from its wound. It glared at Markus, its eyes burning with hatred. But he stood his ground, his sword at the ready.

The beast charged again, and this time, Markus did not dodge. He met it head-on, his sword raised high. The blade sliced through the air, and then there was a sickening thud as it connected with the beast's skull. The crowd held their breath, and then, with a whimper, the beast fell to the ground. Dead.

+10 points

MARKUS' STATS:

STRENGTH: 75/100

ENDURANCE: 65/100

SPEED: 60/100

AGILITY: 70/100

WILLPOWER: 85/100

INTELLIGENCE: 85/100

LEVEL: 1

There was a moment of silence, and then the crowd erupted into cheers. Markus stood, panting, his sword still raised. He had done it. He was the god of war.

Celeste ran towards him, her face alight with joy and pride. She threw her arms around him, and he held her close. In that moment, he felt invincible. He had conquered his fears, and he had proven himself worthy of his title. He was the god of war, and he would protect his people with everything he had.

The crowd began to chant his name, and he knew that this was only the beginning. There were many battles ahead, and he would face them all with courage and strength. He was ready for whatever the world would throw at him.

Lord and Lady Blackwood stood, their expressions carefully blank. They clapped slowly and deliberately, as if to show their contempt for what they had just witnessed. But as they clapped, their minds were racing. They knew that they could not allow this marriage to stand. Their daughter was far too precious to be wasted on a lowly god like Markus. They would have to find a way to destroy the marriage, to separate them forever. But how?